BONTOC, Mountain Province – This capital town welcomed the year 2020 without a single record of firecracker related injuries.
The monitoring and recording of firecracker related injuries started from December 21, 2019 to January 5, 2020.
This was announced by Dr. Diga Kay Gomez, the Municipal Health Officer during the regular Monday Flag Raising Ceremony on January 6, 2020 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol grounds.
According to Dr. Gomez, Bontoc attained zero fire cracker related injuries for six years in a row. She attributed this to the collaborative efforts of concerned offices and agencies in untiringly reminding the public to observe the firecracker law.
With this, Dr. Gomez thanked all concerned offices and agencies for their endless campaign against the use of firecrackers.
Executive order number 28, Series of 2017 regulates and controls the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in the country.
It also bans the use of strong and harmful firecrackers such as watusi, piccolo, super lolo, atomic triangle, Judas belt, large bawang, pillbox, goodbye Philippines, mother rocket, lolo thunder, bin laden, pla-pla, giant whistle bomb, and other giant unlabeled firecrackers.
Aside from this, the Bontoc Municipal Government has an existing municipal ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Bayan that prohibits the provision of firecrackers to minors and regulating firecracker use or disposition. At the same time, it provides penalties to those who will violate the ordinance.
Prior to the celebration of the yuletide season, the public especially the parents were reminded to tell their children not to pick up failed or unexploded fireworks to prevent them from being exposed to hazards that could lead to the loss of parts of their bodies or even their sense of sight in extreme cases.
In Bontoc, the municipal government through its Municipal Health Office (MHO), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and its partner agencies to include the Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS), Bontoc Municipal Fire Station, Provincial Health Office (PHO) and Department of Health (DOH) – Provincial Office has spearheaded the intense campaign against the use of firecrackers.
Relative to this, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey lauded the above mentioned offices and agencies of their commitment in assuring that there will be no cases of fire cracker related injuries in the municipality. He likewise thanked the public for their cooperation adding that this is a manifestation of how the government and the public work harmoniously.
In welcoming the year 2020, Odsey urged everyone to move forward from the struggles and learning in the past year and use these to improve one’s self. The mayor also further solicited the usual cooperation and support of everyone as the Bontoc continues to strive for progress for the good of the municipality and its people.
By Alpine L. Killa
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
